Kim Soo-hyun

Kim Soo-hyun is one of South Korea’s highest-paid and most beloved actors, known for his roles in some of the most successful Korean dramas of all time. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Kim developed an interest in acting during his school years and studied drama at the Korea National University of Arts. He made his acting debut in 2007 and steadily built his career through various television roles before achieving his first major breakthrough.

Kim’s rise to superstardom began with the fantasy-comedy drama My Love from the Star (2013-2014), in which he played an alien living on Earth. The show became a massive hit not only in South Korea but across Asia, sparking a Korean Wave phenomenon in China. He followed this with the critically acclaimed war drama The Producers (2015) before completing his mandatory military service from 2017 to 2019. His return to acting was highly anticipated, and he delivered with the romantic drama It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020), which became a global hit on Netflix.

In 2024, Kim starred in Queen of Tears alongside Kim Ji-won, which shattered viewership records and became one of the highest-rated Korean dramas in cable television history. The show’s success further cemented his status as a top-tier hallyu star and dramatically increased his earning power through endorsements and appearance fees. Kim commands some of the highest per-episode fees in Korean television history.

With an estimated net worth of $15 million, Kim’s wealth comes from a combination of his acting career and his extensive portfolio of endorsement deals with major brands. He has been the face of numerous luxury and consumer brands across Asia, and his endorsement income reportedly exceeds his acting salary. Kim Soo-hyun remains one of the most influential cultural figures in South Korea and across the broader Asian entertainment landscape.